Nonskid chain



A. N. EDEBURN Feb. 17. 1925.

NONSKID CHAIN Filed Jan. 9, 1922 m T m V m Patented Feb. 17, 1925.

' w ALFRED n. nnmzumv, or CLEVELAND, omo.

, NONSKID CHAIN.

.gA ppl ication filed ianuary 9, 192 2. Serial No. 527,940.

Be ftkno n that I, ALFRED N QEnnBuizN, a citizen of the United States,a'nd a resident of Cleveland, county of-G uyahogaan d State ,of Ohio, have. invented a new and useful Improvement in Nonskid Chains, of which the following is a specification, theprinciple of the invention be ng herein explained and the best mode ,in; which I havecontemplated it from 'othei' inventions, 6

The presentfimprovement related as indicated'to 'non-skidchains, is more particulartread elemeiit and. the circumferential side chains. 'To the accomplishment of the forely directed to an improved chain of the socalled Weed? type,in which"aseriesof short lengths of chain are disposed transversely oft-he treadportion of the wheel and connected at their ends to circumferentially extending side chains. The particular object of the present. inventiorif'is the provi- $1011 of an improved type of tread element for such a chain, .togetlfer with improved connecting linksfextending between this going and related ends,.saifd invention. then, consists ofthe means hereinafter fully described and particularlypointed out inthe claims w M y I The annexed .drawing and the following description set forth infdetail certainmechanismnembodying. the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical formsfin which the principle of the invention may be used. f

In said annexed drawin 1 is a side elevatlon of the wheel showlng my. chains appliedthereto; Fig. 2

is a bottom viewi'n perspective of the non-y skid element; Fig. 3';is a perspective view of one of the complete cross chains; Figs. 4;

and 5 are side and end views respectively, of one of the snap links for connecting the cross chains to the circumferential side chains; Fig. 6 is, a view illustrating the method of making the connection between one of the snap links and the link of the side chain; Fig. 7 1s a side view of the snap link showin it being connected to the side chain shown in section; Fig. 8 is a section on the 1ine 8,8, Fig. 2; Figs. 9 and 10 are respectively a side elevation and an end View of the modified type of snap link which is referred to the form shown in Figs. 4 and 5;

applying "that principle, so, as to distinguish .any particular and Figsgll 12 and 13 are sections through tires showlng my chainapplied thereto.

My improved chain consists of tvvocir-v cumferential side chains 1 between which are connected transverse chains 2.] The side chains are not connected to the spokes of the wheel an creeping action which isdesirable with this type-of chain, to prevent the wear at tire 3. may of course be used.

The cross linksare shown in Fig. 3 and consist of a main tread link or non-skid element a to which are connected either single or double connectinglinks 5 and snap links 6, the latter of which snap into the side chains 1. Ihaveshown double connecting links although single ones maybe used if,

desired. The link 4isconstructed to ex& tend substantially across the tread or ground-engaging portionof the tire 3, and this link is varied in length for different sizes of tires; This link is formed from a single length ofywire which is formed into an elongated loop, the remaining wire then being coiledinto a second loop 7 which is superimposed on the first loop 8 centrally of" the same in such a way asto provide two cross elements 9 and double transverse wires 10 and 11. [The wires 10 and 11 are welded, brazed or otherwise integrally joined together, and so. formed,they afiord a double thickness of wire at the point of greatest wear. The two end portions of the main loop are curved slightly away from the planeof the smaller loop 7 in order to conform substantially to the shape: This fallowsthis main link 4 to.

of the tire. lie substantially flat'on the tire at all times and to creep around the tire without rolling or turnin The main links are made from ductile wire and after being formed and welded or brazed together in the manner shown, are heat treated or hardened for endurance.

These main or non-skid links 4 are constructd of different lengths to suit difierent tire sizes asillustrated in Figs. 11 and 12 where this link is shown as extending entirely across the tread portion 30 of the tire. The bent end portions of the main link extend slightly away from the tire sufare therefore free to 'move' clrcuinferentially of the wheel to give the points on the tread of the Any suitable type offside chains ficiently to allow the connection thereto of ably used in order to provide greater fiexi two links instead 01 a single one are preferbility in the cross members of the chain 7 and to better withstand wear." In addition these double links prevent skidding on turns Where they come into service'because of the' 's'lipp'ing ofthe chainunder the tire toso'me extent. a v V The preferred form ofs'nap; links are s-hownin Figs'. 9 and -10' jand consist of a strip'jof w re 6fbent intoja' loop with'the ends "ofthe wire crossed at the point 15,

after which each end is rebent upon it self; These ends are bent in opposite directions to form hooks 16and 17 The links '6aresnapp'ed into the side chains 1 in the manner indicated in Fig. 6, the links 18'0f the side chain being inserted between the two rebent hook portions '16 and'17 of the links fandfthen twisted toiengage it be- ""nea'ththe-t wo hooked ends of the snap link f 6.} The ,}1ink 18 is preventedfrom accidental' disengagement by the formfof the snap link 6 and by the fact that the pointwhere the two hooks "of thislink cross the spacing between the wires, is too small to pass the link 18 therebetween so that the links 18 are'kept in the hook ends-Jot the snap links. The links shown in Figs. 4: and 5 are sim ilar' to the linksofFigs. 9 and 10 except that the hook ends are not crossed, but there is the same tendency in these links to maintain'f'the side links 18 in the hook-end portions of the snap links."

'In Figure 13 main link and connect-- mg or mtermedrateh'nks 5 when the vehlcle 1s turnlng a corner. Under such' conditions,

the cross chainsslip slightly i1'1' the direction, of the turn, that is, they slip across the tire slightly, "the efi'ect on the present chain being to tilt the'inain link land allow one of the curved e'nd portions of this link to be pressed down fiat against the side wall I link are" i I ;3. Anon-skid element I Ihave' shown the position taken by the cross chain, and particularly,

, theposition of the of the tire. This also brings into play the connecting links5 which thenf assist in providing agripping actionon'the; road;

The present chain provides a yery much improved tread member which is maintained in closer contact with the tire and it is provided with a considerably increased capa city for wear over the old type of links used n the so-called FWeed chains, while the remainder of the cross chains are designed to vfacilitate attachment and replacementof the side chains for repair or replacement.

chain comes *into play. 7

p Also the. links next to the main designed to prevent skidding ,in' turning corners where this portion of the Other'modes of applying the principle of V 1 my invention maybe employedinstead. of

the one explained, change being made as" regards I the mechanism herein disclosed,

provided the means stated byf'any of the following claims or the-equivalent of such stated meansobe employed.

therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention A non-skid element comprising an elongated wire loop and a'"'seoond shorter loop superimposed upon said first named loop and integrally joined thereto, said two loops being formed :of a single length of hardened wire.

2. A non-skid element comprising an elongated wir'eloop having its end portions inclined slightly from theplane of the central 'portionof said loop, and a second smaller loop superimposed upon the central portion of said first: namedloopfand integrally joined thereto.

gated wire loop having its end portions incomprising an elon smaller loopsuperimposed'upon the central portion of said first named loop, and said two loops'being formed from a single length of hardened wire and being integrally joined to each other.

Signed 1921-, a ALFRED N. EDEBURN.

by me this 31st day of December, 

